We all face different kinds of hardships in our lives. Corruption has taken its role in tearing down all pure innate characters to pieces, then it continued to grind them down to dust. Day after day, one feels more depressed, and inclines towards succumbing to despair. Wise men say, “It’s only after the darkest moment, that light begins to appear.” Their words are spiritually and logically acceptable, but it takes a lot of strength to endure and continue striving, not knowing when shall this light begin to appear.

One of the greatest prescriptions for endurance is to always be grateful for whatever destiny holds, the better and the worse. As Muslims we say, “Al-Hamdu-lillah,” that’s “All praises be to Allah.” This reminds us in dark moments that there is a god whom we should recline to when troubled or afflicted with what we hate. It calms our souls, and grants our minds an opportunity to think and find solutions. Showing gratitude at dark moments surely enables you to endure until help comes.

Help comes in different forms; sometimes it’s a friend, a relative, a neighbor, or even a total stranger, other times it comes in the form of a brilliant idea, at times it’s even unexplainable… Every now and then help comes, but rarely do we stop, ponder, and ask, how and why did this happen, and what should we do afterwards? The answers to the first two questions is something you will have to figure out on your own based on your beliefs, but as for the third, my advice is, try to help others in the best of your capacity. It’s when you let go of your fears, stand fast for what’s right, and extend a helping hand to others, that you get to see our Creator with your heart. It’s when you see hardships being lifted from upon others that you get to sense the beauty of faith.

When I ponder over the Qur’an, I find the following verses in which Allah says:
“We sent not before you [O Muhammad] but men whom We inspired, chosen from among their people. Have they not traveled across the earth and seen the end of those before them? Verily the home of the hereafter is best for those who are mindful, will you not then understand? It wasn’t until those messengers lost all hope and thought that their message had been denied that Our help came to them: We saved whoever We pleased, but Our punishment shall not be averted from the guilty. Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for people of understanding. This is not a forged statement but a confirmation of the previous scriptures, and a detailed explanation of all [creedal] matters; a guide and mercy for those who believe.” [The Qur’an (12:109-110)].

Hence, always remember that help comes at the darkest moments when one has done all that he can, and lost all hope that anything else he does could produce a real change. And rest assured that as long as you remain righteous, or at least try to, help will always come.

Written By: Ehab Shawky.

In Response To: Brave
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/brave/